What’s Your Approach To Occupational Health?

Posted on by Allison Caine

Your occupational health strategy is intrinsic to the success of your business.

Healthy, happy, valued employees are more productive and take less days off sick. All of this helps you boost your bottom line, making your business more successful.

If you’re considering implementing an occupational health scheme at your workplace but don’t know where to start, speak to the team at OHBM. We’ve many years’ experience in the field, helping businesses both large and small in public and private sectors.

We’re happy to answer any questions you might have. Contact us for a free review of your business and a full report on the same day.

Sun Protection Information For Employers

Posted on by Allison Caine

outdoor workers

We all welcome a little sunshine as spring and summer roll around, and this can make the job much more pleasant for outdoor workers. But as an employer you have the responsibility for the health of those employees who work outside most of the day, and the risks associated with hot, sunny weather.

If you’re a manager or an employer of people who work outside, you might find the following information helpful.

Risks of working in hot and sunny conditions

The sun’s UV rays can cause skin damage, including sun burn, ageing and skin cancer. This should be considered a hazard for people working outside. Heat can cause dehydration, so drink plenty of water.

Tips for employers

Make sure you pass on information about working outside in your routine health and safety training, informing employees that a tan is not healthy.

Encourage outdoor workers to regularly check their skin for strange spots and moles changing colour or size, and to seek medical advice if there is any concern.

Educate employees about the importance of staying hydrated and seeking areas of shade during their breaks. Situate break areas and water points in locations of shade.

Encourage workers to stay covered up, using hats and long sleeved tops, and regularly apply sunscreen.

The benefits

By ensuring your workforce is well equipped to deal with hot and sunny conditions and educated about the risks involved, you reduce the amount of employee health problems and sick days. Find further information within the HSE’s sun protection leaflet or speak to the team at OHBM.

What is occupational health?

Posted on by Allison Caine

In the UK every year 170 million days are lost to sickness absence according to statistics published on the NHS website. The cost of this is level of sickness on the British economy is estimated to be around £100 billion every year, according to statistics published by the Government’s Black Review, which studied the health of the population at working age.

Workplace

Occupational health advisors help you to keep your staff physically and mentally fit, allowing them to work more productively and take less time off due to sickness. The healthier your employees, the better your business performs. This is why an occupational health advisor is a vital aspect of your business.

Elements of your occupational health plan might include the following:

  • Eliminating health risks within your business
  • Ensuring you are meeting your statutory responsibilities
  • Providing health surveillance and screening facilities
  • Advice regarding long-term health problems
  • Reducing short-term sickness
  • Promoting wellbeing services in order to retain staff and boost productivity

OHBM helps businesses in a number of different sectors – from building sites to offices – to improve their business prospects through occupational health. If you’re still wondering “What is occupational health, and how would it work in my business setting?” contact us for further details.

Lack Of Effective Health Programs Costs £100billion A Year

Posted on by Allison Caine

Recent research has shown that the lack of understanding of effective health and wellbeing in the workforce is costing the UK economy more than £100billion a year. By tackling poor workplace health using more effective methods, the report says, the country could boost its GDP considerably.

UK productivity levels are at risk if companies ignore employee health, which could lead to a slower economic recovery for the country.

Of those workplaces that are looking into methods of effective health and wellbeing, too many are wasting their time and money on ineffective methods.

The study, which comes from the University of Salford and public health research consultants Caville Associates says that time and money is being wasted due to poor planning and execution of occupational health initiatives. This is despite the fact that there has been an increase in investment in workplace health over the last few years.

In answer to the problem, workplaces are being asked to form strategic partnerships to boost success rates of occupational health schemes. Asking advice from experts in the field such as OHBM, allows businesses to boost the success rates of their schemes by utilising the knowledge and experience of qualified industry professionals.

If you are seeking a way to implement a successful occupational health programme in your organisation, please speak to our advisers today. We offer free, impartial advice to senior managers, as well as a complementary analysis of your organisation, allowing you to make an informed decision.

OHBM Ltd & Brabners HR Forum Manchester – 2nd April

Posted on by Allison Caine

                     

 

OHBM Ltd & Brabners HR Forum – Manchester

 

We’d be delighted if you could join us for our OHBM/Brabners HR Forum in Manchester on 2 April 2014

 

Our hot topic for this session will be: Staff health and wellbeing.  Come along, share best practice and increase your knowledge and experience. Come along and find out the answers to all your difficult questions!

 

Our HR Forum is a networking group aimed at HR and operations managers, together with anyone who is responsible for managing people in their organisation.

 

This is a perfect opportunity for you to get up to date whilst building up a supportive network of like minded colleagues.

 

Who should attend?

HR Professionals

Operations Managers

Event Details

Cost: Free – but advanced booking in required

Date: 2 April 2014

Venue: Brabners, 55 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LQ

 

Timings

8:00am: Registration, refreshments and networking

8:30am: Welcome and introduction

8:40am: Round table discussion followed by Q&A

9:45am: Close

 

Confirmations

You will receive a confirmation email one week prior to the event which will include map/directions and details of car parking facilities located near to the venue.

 

Invitation

Posted on by Allison Caine

OHBM Ltd would be delighted if you could join us and Brabners Solicitors LLP, for a HR Forum, in Manchester on 27th February 2014.

Our HR Forum is a networking group aimed at HR professionals and Operations Managers, together with anyone who is responsible for managing people in their organisation.

Our hot topic for this session will be: Effective Management of Sickness Absence. Experience shows that this difficult topic continues to challenge businesses on a regular basis. At OHBM Ltd we understand that Employment law and Occupational Health is constantly changing and our clients need to find time in their busy work schedules to keep abreast of these changes. Our clients tell us that when managing an employee who is off work through illness, they often find the process a minefield. The forum will address these issues and you will hear how other companies have successfully dealt with their absence issues.  You will gain a clearer understanding of what you can expect from a Specialist Occupational Health provider and Employment Law Solicitor.  You will have the opportunity to ask direct questions to a Specialist Occupational health Practitioner (Allison Caine) and Employment Law specialist (Lee Jefcott).

This is a perfect opportunity for you to increase your knowledge on the subject, whilst building up a supportive network of like-minded colleagues.

Who should attend?

HR Professionals, Operations Managers, those significantly involved in managing absence.

Event Details Cost: FREE

Date: Thursday 27th February 2014

Venue: Brabners, 55 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LQ

Timings

8:00am: Registration, refreshments and networking

8:30am: Welcome and introduction

8:40am: Round table discussion followed by Q&A

9:45am: Close

These places are strictly limited and available on a first come first serve basis. To book your place please call Brabners on… 0161 836 8898.

We look forward to seeing you on 27th!